GOVERNMENT GATEWAY SIGN-IN FOR SELF ASSESSMENT SOFTWARE
To file a Self Assessment return through software such as DTax Filer, you need your UTR and a Government Gateway user ID and password. If you sign in to HMRC with GOV.UK One Login, which every new HMRC customer has used since February 2026, you need to create a separate Government Gateway user ID for software first. It takes a few minutes, and this page shows how.
What you need to file through software
| You need | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Your UTR (10 digits) | HMRC, after you register for Self Assessment |
| A Government Gateway user ID and password | Your existing sign-in, or created for software if you use One Login |
| Self Assessment added to your HMRC account | Done when you register or activate Self Assessment |
Which sign-in do you have?
HMRC has two ways to sign in:
- Government Gateway: a user ID of up to 12 characters, and a password. If you have this, use it in DTax Filer as it is.
- GOV.UK One Login: your email address and a password. New HMRC customers have signed up this way since 9 February 2026, and One Login will replace Government Gateway over time.
If you use One Login: create Government Gateway details for software
GOV.UK says One Login users need a unique Government Gateway user ID and password to submit a return through commercial software:
- Sign in to your HMRC online account with GOV.UK One Login.
- Go to your sign-in details and choose to create Government Gateway user ID and password.
- Check your email. HMRC sends you the new user ID.
- Use those details in DTax Filer when you choose Submit to HMRC.
These details only work for software. You keep signing in to GOV.UK with One Login. You need to be registered for Self Assessment, and have it in your account, before you create them.
Getting your UTR
Your UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) is a 10-digit number HMRC gives you when you register for Self Assessment. Register by 5 October after the end of the tax year you need to file for, so by 5 October 2026 for 2025–26. If you register online, the UTR usually appears in your HMRC account within 72 hours. By post it takes around 15 days, longer if you live abroad. Find a lost UTR on GOV.UK.
Sign-in problems
- Lost user ID or password: you can recover or reset them on GOV.UK.
- Account locked after too many attempts: it unlocks after 2 hours. HMRC's helpdesk can't unlock it sooner.
- New phone for 2-step codes: choose "You can get help" when you sign in to change how you get codes.
- Asked to prove your identity: HMRC may ask for photo ID such as a passport or driving licence.
Filing your return with DTax Filer
- Create a free DTax Filer account and prepare your return. You don't need your HMRC sign-in for this part.
- Check the tax calculation.
- Choose Submit to HMRC and enter your UTR and Government Gateway user ID and password. Submitting costs £14.50 per tax return.
Questions
I sign in to HMRC with GOV.UK One Login. Can I file through software?
Yes, but GOV.UK says you first need to create a separate Government Gateway user ID and password for software. Sign in with One Login, go to your sign-in details and choose to create Government Gateway credentials. HMRC emails you the new user ID.
Can I use those Government Gateway details to sign in on GOV.UK?
No. GOV.UK says the Government Gateway user ID and password you create this way are only for submitting through software. You keep signing in to HMRC online services with One Login.
I already have a Government Gateway user ID. Do I need to change anything?
No. Existing Government Gateway users can keep using their user ID and password, including in DTax Filer, until HMRC asks them to move to One Login.
Where do I find my UTR?
Your Unique Taxpayer Reference is a 10-digit number. It is in your HMRC online account and the HMRC app, and on past tax returns and letters from HMRC about Self Assessment.
How long does it take to get a UTR?
If you register online, HMRC says the UTR usually appears in your online account within 72 hours. By post it usually takes around 15 days, and longer if you live abroad. Register by 5 October after the end of the tax year.
My Government Gateway account is locked. What can I do?
After too many failed sign-in attempts the account unlocks itself after 2 hours, and HMRC helpdesk advisers cannot unlock it sooner. If you have lost your user ID or password, you can recover or reset them on GOV.UK.